iconology Definition

iconology
noun

1. art hist.
A development of iconography, involving the historical study of the social, political and religious meanings of works of art.
2a. The study of icons;
2b. Icons or symbols collectively.

Etymology: 20c in sense 1, first used by German art historian Edwin Panofsky (1892‐1968); 18c in sense 2: from Greek eikon image + -logy1.